Cross country preview: Lace them up

Tuesday

Racing into a new conference, with its top four runners back, New Bern cross country coach Mark Robison likes his team's chances of winning a title.

Racing into a new conference, with its top four runners back, New Bern cross country coach Mark Robison likes his team's chances of winning a title.

“We should win a conference championship in this new conference with what we've got,” Robison said. “We raced those teams last year in the ECU Pirate Invitational and did real well against them.”

The boys' team finished fourth in the Mideastern Conference last season. It will no longer compete against the Wilmington schools. Instead, the Bears will run against J.H. Rose, D.H. Conley, South Central, C.B. Aycock, Eastern Wayne and Southern Wayne.

Leading the boys will be last year's No. 1 Marcellus White, followed closely by Jarrett Gingrich. Neither made states last year, but after an offseason of getting better, Robison hopes they can qualify this year.

“I would love to see Jarrett and Marcellus move on to the states this year,” Robison said. “Jarrett has really come on this past year. His last 5K was back in May and he ran a 17:30. He could be at 17 flat by the end of the season.

“We are looking for him, and Marcellous, to start the year there.”

Rhett Simpson and Frank Wood should also contribute to the team scoring.

The girls didn't lose anyone from last season. They even gained six newcomers.

Sara Snyder and Stacy Parton are New Bern's top two runners, while Caitlin Gross will likely be the third.

Last season, the girls came in last in the Mideastern Conference.

“It's kind of early,” Robison said. “Stacy and Sara are my top two right now. I'm looking for a better performance than last year. With what we have, I know we are going to do that.”

Prichard set to pace Rams

HAVELOCK – As a team, last year, the Havelock's boys' cross country team qualified for the state meet.

Only one of those runners is back – rising junior Jeremy Prichard.

Prichard, however, has been to the state meet the past two seasons. He will likely be the Rams' top runner this season.

“He knows what we have to do, how to lead and how we have to run. He know what it takes to get to states.”

Prichard will be joined by John Warfield and John Ballarta with the top three times. Alejandro Gutierez, Nick Lynch and Justin Sabdo are also on the boys' squad.

Havelock lost Zack Bruns, Matt Prichard and Matt Brown from last year's group.

“I have a young team,” said Garvey. “I'm looking for growth from them. I'd like to make it to state, but realistically, it is going to be tough.”

Havelock's girls team has just seven runners.

Lisa Furness, Elizabeth Guevera and Suzy Bean are slated as the top three runners, followed by Leeza Calabrese and Savannah Thornton.

“I'm real thin this year,” Garvey said. “We are real young. I have two freshmen, two sophomores and three seniors.”

Spain, Ehmke tops for Pamlico

BAYBORO – Michael Spain emerged as Pamlico's best runner. It was at a cross country meet at Dixon last season when he set a personal record and declared his role on the team.

He was the team's Most Valuable Runner, a title he hopes to carry over to this season.

“Michael is going to do real good for us,” said Pamlico boys' cross country coach Paul Delamar. “I'm hoping he is going to pick up where he left off. He had a strong finish last year.”

Spain, and last year's version of the Hurricanes, finished 13th at the state championships.

From the out-set of the year, Delamar told his team they have all the potential to win conference and regionals, and then fare better at states.

“I was real clear at the beginning that I think this team has the potential to win a conference and regional championship,” Delamar said.

The Hurricanes lost a strong runner in John Paxton, who transferred. They bring back Justin Spruill, Tyler Ellenberg and Devin Bell, and have a few promising freshmen..

Megan Ehmke returns as the leader of the girls' team. Just like last year, she's expected to lead the pack.

“She comes to practice every day and puts in a good effort,” said Pamlico girls' coach Rusty Meador. “She is excited about doing some good things in her last year.”

Mariah Meador has a chance to push for the top spot, while Olivia Sawyer will most likely have the third best time. Nicole Edwards, Sam Thall and Alexis Edwards, along with freshmen Faith Poole and Lizeth Mendoza are on the squad.

“I'm looking for them to improve their times and return to the state meet, which is our ultimate goal,” Meador said. “We would like to see our team come together and compete strongly with the other teams in the conference.”

Gray, Hoard seeking state titles

McKinley Gray is looking to become the first four-time all-state cross-country runner in the short history of The Epiphany School.

Gray, a rising senior, came so close to winning a state championship the past two years, but settled for second after getting edged out by nemesis Connor Jones from Wayne Christian School.

New head coach Ryan Albertson believes Gray has a shot to eclipse his running rival.

“(McKinley) is a great leader. He is working really hard, and committed himself to a big summer of training,” Albertson said. “He's been a big help, especially for me as a new coach coming in.

“He should have a great year this year.”

As a group, Epiphany's boys placed third at last year's North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association championships.

Albertson said the goal is a team state title.

Joining Gray will be Jake Oros, James Davis, Andrew Haddad and Burke Whaley.

“As a team, we are trying for that state title. We will see a lot more competition, but they are really committed to the process of training hard every day and taking care of the little things.”

On the girls' side, Lake Hoard is aiming to defend the state title she claimed last year.

“She's been great. She's in better shape than when she came in last year,” Albertson said. “She had a good summer and she is healthy.

“She is a competitor. She wants to work and it's going to be exciting to see her run to what she is capable of.”

The Epiphany girls are also relying on contributions from Hannah Russo, Even Johnson, Jane Blackerby and Joy Whittaker.

Eagles guided by new coach

VANCEBORO – West Craven’s boys and girls cross-country teams have a new leader this season.

Eagles’ baseball coach Mike McKeel is taking over and he is very familiar with many of his runners, as most of them double as members of the baseball team.

McKeel is coaching cross-country this season instead of helping out with the football team as he did a year ago.

“I wanted to try it and it is a lot easier on my schedule as far as family time goes,” McKeel said. “I have a lot of my baseball guys on the boys’ team and there are a couple basketball ladies on the girls’ team. We are just going to try and learn together and plug away to be competitive.”

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